Ministry to install median barrier on Highway 7 in Maple Ridge

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will install a median barrier along more than six kilometers of Lougheed Highway in east Maple Ridge.

The safety improvement project was announced Friday and will stretch from 240th to 272nd streets.

This section of highway is four lanes and undivided, and the ministry has received feedback from the local community that it would like to see median barrier placed along this segment to improve safety.

The barrier is meant to prevent head-on collisions and other crossover incidents.

“As part of B.C. on the Move, we’re committed to making important safety and mobility upgrades throughout B.C.,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone. “We know that the community of Maple Ridge considers this a high priority project and we are pleased to get moving on the design and upcoming installation of this median barrier on Highway 7.”

The project will be split into two phases. The first phase, from 240th Street to the truck pullout, is approximately 3.4 kilometres long.

Construction work on this segment is expected to begin in winter 2016.

The second phase of the project, from the truck pullout to 272nd Street, is expected to get underway in spring 2017.

“Highway 7 is a well-travelled stretch of highway, which serves local traffic, commuter traffic, commercial vehicles and tourists,” said Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton. “Once the new median barrier is installed, it will act as a visual and physical centre barrier, helping to prevent crossovers and boosting safety for all motorists.”

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Doug Bing said the improvements will help especially during periods of bad weather and at night.

The ministry is investing approximately $300,000 on engineering and design of the new median barrier, with final construction costs to be determined on

completion of the detailed design.

There are a number of intersections and commercial accesses along the corridor which will be addressed through the design process. The B.C.

government will be engaging with the Maple Ridge local government and

community over the next few months to develop designs for the median-barrier

project.

In addition, the ministry is working closely with the City of Maple Ridge on a future plan for improving safety and mobility on the Haney Bypass, including the intersections of 222nd Street and Kanaka Way.

A range of design options have been developed and they are currently assessed for effectiveness in improving operations on this corridor. This work is expected to be completed later this year.